LET's ROLL: Ask Dr. Banjo

LET’S ROLL: someone else’s work. An understanding of how the style works must be developed. Ask Dr. Banjo For the sake of a student’s early sense of accomplishment, I think it’s okay sometimes for a teacher to teach a It’s About Fun and Results...As Soon As Possible: simple song or two—as long as it doesn’t take too long and distract from the more Recommendations from a Lifetime of Banjo Teaching fundamental skill-building: chording, Pete Wernick following chord changes while keeping time, and as soon as possible, rolling he following ideas have served my soloing can follow soon enough, but it’s while doing the above. students well since I developed best done in the context of real jamming, Most new players find solos-by-rote them in the 1960s and 70s. They and not just memorizing what someone hard, and play them slowly and haltingly. Thave been presented in my “Bluegrass else has worked out. The critical skill is Even those closet pickers who learn Banjo” book (1974), my ten Homespun knowing how to create a solo, whether on- to pick smoothly often have persistent instructional videos, and over 150 music the-fly in a jam, or when there’s time to timing problems because they never have camps I’ve hosted since 1980. The student work it out more carefully between jams. to play in “real time” and be responsible evaluation forms I’ve used since the late “Learning instrumental pieces” makes to other pickers for correct rhythm. 1980s give clear evidence that they work. good enough sense for classical music, Timing problems, the inability to jam, and These ideas are about how a total but does not correspond to how bluegrass struggling with rote-learned solos may beginner should be started. My ideas on music is played. For the sake of a quick go on for months or even years, wearing later stages of learning, and even what reward (proper execution of a few single down the student’s optimism as they else should be shown to beginners, won’t pieces—that may or may not happen), a struggle to learn a few pieces that amount fit in just one column, and if you’re more appropriate ground-up method is not to only a few minutes of music. interested, head over to DrBanjo.com, attempted. I suggest they focus instead on skills click Instructional, and look under The Soloing is not appropriate to learn first. such as simple right hand rhythm patterns, Doc’s Prescriptions. Learn to crawl before you can walk, walk making easy chords, and learning to Warning: The ideas I’m about to present before you run. A student’s impatience to follow simple chord progressions in real are not in step with most ways people teach “learn‘Foggy Mt. Breakdown” should not time. Once a person can do that, making bluegrass banjo, and I will speak bluntly determine their learning program any more music with other people, or even a play- though I hope not too disrespectfully of than a second grader eager to hit the road along recording, becomes possible. The the more common modes, which I honestly should be taught to drive a car. rewards are endless. Also, this type of feel are holding back a lot of students, and Rhythm playing should come first. Its learning provides a solid foundation that in fact leading to many of them actually basics are readily learned. Rhythm playing will help the student learn how to solo. quitting the instrument. I will admit to is what we banjo players mostly do… If a teacher can actually facilitate being pretty emotional about this issue, When playing with others, we play rhythm their students jamming together, or since it pains me deeply to think of people behind singing (mostly) and also behind with the students of a fellow teacher, who truly want to play banjo, but who are other soloing instruments. Banjo solos an unbeatable motivational situation is then led down blind alleys by people who take about 10% of the time in typical jams created. A student who learns to jam is (while completely well-intentioned) are or bluegrass band performances. One can unlikely to ever quit playing. Being able taking their money and often leave them participate in jams without soloing. Playing to jam leads to motivation to go beyond feeling “non-musical” and “untalented.” rhythm can (and should) be practiced while the basics, and it engenders an optimism This should not happen! singing—a useful skill. When it’s time to in the student that in time, many things are The big problem as I see it is that most learn soloing, a good rhythm sense is part possible. banjo teachers (and in fact most teachers of a strong foundation. of bluegrass instruments) are generally Motivation is Number One stuck in the mode of “learning songs” a What is Wrong with Rote Methods of Stoking motivational fire in the la classical music teaching. That method Learning Banjo student is the centerpiece of good trains people to be closet pickers, fun I’m Learning solos note-for-note, whether teaching. A motivated student with an sure, but a dead end when it comes to really from a page, or having someone telling/ appropriate practice program will go learning to play bluegrass banjo. Jam skills showing each note, is not the way “real” places. Motivation means practice, and are more fundamental to music making, banjo players learn or develop solos. practice means progress, creating more and they lead to more fun. Jamming is Trying to learn bluegrass banjo by rote motivation. Every student begins with fun…and fundamental. is comparable to trying to learn Japanese by a motivational head start: They have a In sum: A student should learn first phonetically reciting poems in Japanese… banjo, and want to pick—so they will the basic skills needed to play simple or painting by the numbers. It’s mimicry, do as they’re told, at least for a while. A and enjoyable music with other people. not real learning. To really learn to play teacher can feed that fire or squander it Teachers should help their students join bluegrass banjo and not just isolated by asking for a lot of effort with minimal with others to make music. Learning “solo” pieces, it’s not enough to reproduce reward. A student who doesn’t get traction right away may already be wondering com. For extra motivation, you can whet the whether “I just wasn’t cut out to be a 2. Easiest right hand (simple one finger student’s appetite by doing a slide on the musician” or “maybe I just don’t have the strum or T/IM “boom/chick”, whatever 3rd string with this roll, like the B part of talent.” There’s a good chance that sooner works, then later a TITM roll). Cripple Creek. Do it up to speed, and make or later they will quit, as most do. But if the 3. Easiest left hand (simple chord it sound great. (You’ll see them smile.) student is having fun and seeing growth, forms near the nut, no F chord or F-shape Vince Gill wrote a beautiful song about his they’re hooked. chords at first). dad, a judge, and a music lover, called The 4. Familiar songs (preferably ones that Key. Over the sound of a simple banjo roll, The Importance of the Social Situation the student actually likes). he sings how his dad taught him: “Three What if someone told you they loved 5. Slow tempos. 70 beats/minute is chords on the banjo is the key to life.” baseball and were a second baseman, and slower than most songs are sung, to allow just bought a good bat and a mitt, and you for slow chord-changing, but fast enough For the full article, “Teaching Beginning asked them what team they play on, and to have a bit of momentum. Banjo Players,” and others about how to they said, “Oh, I’m not on a team. I don’t 6. Somebody to do the singing. Ideally teach banjo, visit DrBanjo.com get in any games. I just go to the batting this would be the student, but experience cage and have a machine that throws me shows they much prefer when someone ground balls.” else does that. Most beginning players make music exclusively by themselves. Often the only Start Jamming—Right Away! person who hears them is their teacher, No special technique is needed for the or a family member. But that’s not the right hand. Just brush the strings with the bluegrass way! Bluegrass is a team sport, thumb or any finger, on the downbeats. built around songs and singing—not A more skilled student could try a simple instrumental banjo pieces. boom/chick pattern: thumb on the 3rd Most teachers do little or nothing to string on the downbeats, the index and/or prepare their students to play real bluegrass, middle on the offbeats. but there’s a wonderful world of bluegrass No need for written music of any they can enter easily enough. In fact: sort. It’s better to get them listening and “The first rung of the ladder is very watching (skills needed for jamming). close to the ground.” Playing two-chord They get the chords by following you. songs using just G and D7 while strumming Just have the student watch your left is so very easy that anyone from 5 to 95 hand carefully, and change back and can be shown how.

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